Category Archives: Murray

In an 8-to-1 vote, the Supreme Court of Georgia has denied a stay of execution for J.W. Ledford, Jr., who is scheduled to be put to death tonight at 7:00 p.m. by lethal injection at the Georgia Diagnostic and Classification Prison in Jackson, GA.

Ledford, 45, was sentenced to death in Murray County for the murder of his 73-year-old neighbor, Dr. Harry Buchanan Johnston, Jr. On Jan. 31, 1992, Ledford, who was 20 at the time, went to his neighbor’s house and stabbed the physician to death, nearly decapitating him. After dragging Johnston’s body to a small building on the Johnston property and covering it up, Ledford returned to the home and forced his way in, holding a knife to Johnston’s wife, Antoinette. Threatening to kill her, Ledford pushed her throughout the house, demanding money and guns. After stealing some guns, he forced her onto the bed, tied her up, then left. She was able to free herself and call the sheriff’s office. Law enforcement officers found Johnston’s body near the small building. According to the medical examiner who performed the autopsy, following his injuries, Johnston lived about eight or nine minutes before bleeding to death.

In addition to denying Ledford’s motion for a stay of execution, the state Supreme Court has also denied his request to appeal today’s ruling by the Butts County Superior Court. Earlier today, that court denied his motion for a stay and rejected his attorneys’ claim that his age at the time of the crime should make him ineligible for the death penalty. Under the U.S. Supreme Court’s 2005 decision in Roper v. Simmons, it is unconstitutional to execute anyone who was under the age of 18 at the time of the crime. Ledford’s attorneys wanted the Georgia Supreme Court to raise the minimum age to 21, arguing that “neuroscience has shown that an adolescent brain does not fully mature until a person is in his mid-20s.” State and federal laws imposing minimum age requirements on such things as consumption of alcohol and obtaining a concealed carry handgun permit confirm that young adults aged 18, 19, and 20 are not as responsible as those over 21, the attorneys contended. They also argued that the death penalty largely has fallen into disuse nationally and internationally for people 18-to-21.

In today’s decision, all the Justices concurred except Justice Robert Benham, who dissented. (Judge Tilman E. Self, III of the Georgia Court of Appeals sat by designation in place of Justice Britt Grant, who was disqualified.)

Murray County Chief Magistrate Judge L. Gale Buckner and Hiram Police Chief Todd A. Vande Zande were seated as members of the Highland Rivers Health governing board at its most recent meeting in February. Buckner and Vande Zande will serve three-year terms as representatives of Murray and Paulding counties, respectively.

“Mental illness and substance use disorders continue to have a substantial impact on both law enforcement agencies and the criminal justice system in our state,” said Judge Allen Wigington, chair of Highland Rivers’ governing board. “Chief Vande Zande and Judge Buckner are important partners in Highland Rivers’ ongoing efforts to address these issues in communities in northwest Georgia. We are very pleased to have them join our governing board.”

Highland Rivers Health is governed by a 14-member board that includes a representative from every county in the agency’s service area (with two representatives from both Floyd and Polk counties) who are appointed by each county’s board of commissioners. Members serve three-year terms, and terms are staggered to ensure continuity of governance.

The board includes several individuals who have family members with mental illness, addictive disease or developmental disabilities, and includes representatives from the judicial system, family services, private industry, law enforcement, local government and healthcare, among others.

“Highland Rivers Health is very fortunate to have governing board members that are true advocates – not only for our agency, but more important, for the individuals we serve,” said Highland Rivers CEO Melanie Dallas. “Judge Buckner and Chief Vande Zande are excellent additions to our board and we thank the commissioners of Murray and Paulding counties for appointing them.”

Rep. Tom Graves (R-GA-14) today announced the 2017 schedule for the 14th Congressional District’s County Connection Program. The County Connection Program stations members of Rep. Graves’ staff in counties across the 14th District in order to provide a personal link to Congress for Georgians who may not be able to visit the permanent district offices in Dalton and Rome.

“Assisting constituents who are having problems with a federal agency is an important part of my job,” said Rep. Graves. “Whether you’re a senior citizen having trouble accessing your Social Security benefits, a veteran denied care at the VA or someone having trouble with any other federal agency or program, my staff is here to help. My staff and I will do everything we can to ensure the federal government serves you as efficiently and effectively as possible.”

Note: The counties of Floyd and Whitfield do not have County Connection days because they are home to Rep. Graves’ two permanent congressional offices that have full-time staff and are open five days per week.